The aim of the study was to investigate how women, who were victims of intimate
partner violence, experienced their participation in art therapy.Semistructured
interviews were conducted with eight women who participated in a twelve week long art therapy group treatment arranged by Brottsofferjouren and Kvinnojouren. The data was analyzed by using thematic analysis and eight themes were identified. Throughout the themes, the participants experiences of art as method, and how art can be used as a tool to process their traumatic experiences of violence, was highlighted. Together with the group and the therapist, this was found to be the key aspects of the womens experiences of their participation. The women also experienced change in health... (More)

The aim of the study was to investigate how women, who were victims of intimate
partner violence, experienced their participation in art therapy.Semistructured
interviews were conducted with eight women who participated in a twelve week long art therapy group treatment arranged by Brottsofferjouren and Kvinnojouren. The data was analyzed by using thematic analysis and eight themes were identified. Throughout the themes, the participants experiences of art as method, and how art can be used as a tool to process their traumatic experiences of violence, was highlighted. Together with the group and the therapist, this was found to be the key aspects of the womens experiences of their participation. The women also experienced change in health and
self-image connected to their participation. All women described less psychological symptoms, like reduced dysphoria and anxiety, together with less physiological symptoms such as reduced tension, headaches and insomnia. After completion of the art therapy, the women rapported various positive changes, such as increased self esteem and self confidence, belief in their own abilities, sense of control and a brighter outlook on their future. The results were discussed in relation to current research in the field of trauma and intimate partner violence, to increase the understading regarding how art
therapy is experienced as an intervention for female victims of intimate partner violence. (Less)

@misc{8874829,
abstract = {The aim of the study was to investigate how women, who were victims of intimate
partner violence, experienced their participation in art therapy.Semistructured
interviews were conducted with eight women who participated in a twelve week long art therapy group treatment arranged by Brottsofferjouren and Kvinnojouren. The data was analyzed by using thematic analysis and eight themes were identified. Throughout the themes, the participants experiences of art as method, and how art can be used as a tool to process their traumatic experiences of violence, was highlighted. Together with the group and the therapist, this was found to be the key aspects of the womens experiences of their participation. The women also experienced change in health and
self-image connected to their participation. All women described less psychological symptoms, like reduced dysphoria and anxiety, together with less physiological symptoms such as reduced tension, headaches and insomnia. After completion of the art therapy, the women rapported various positive changes, such as increased self esteem and self confidence, belief in their own abilities, sense of control and a brighter outlook on their future. The results were discussed in relation to current research in the field of trauma and intimate partner violence, to increase the understading regarding how art
therapy is experienced as an intervention for female victims of intimate partner violence.},
author = {Nicklasson, Lisa and Stern, Malin},
keyword = {battered women,group therapy,trauma,intimate partner violence,art therapy,qualitative research,våld i nära relationer,bildterapi,gruppterapi,våldsutsatta kvinnor,kvalitativ metod},
language = {swe},
note = {Student Paper},
title = {"Nu kan jag gå vidare till andra färger" Våldsutsatta kvinnors upplevelser av bildterapi},
year = {2016},
}